This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Hunter Dennis was a scriptwriter in Hollywood starting with his first sale to the studios in 1998. He has been credited on several films, one of which was distributed internationally and made over 160 million dollars. Since the completion of his first novel, "The Crimson Heirlooms", he has wholly converted to writing prose.

Hunter comes from a distinguished military family, has lived in three countries and across America. He was accepted into the University of Southern California Film School in the Production major as an undergraduate. Before optioning his first screenplay, he worked on a road slurry crew, cleaned a restaurant, and learned how to box.

​He currently lives in Thousand Oaks, California, and looks forward to starting a family somewhere far more green, wet and cold.

Book Review

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

The Painted Cross by Hunter Dennis is the follow-on book from The Crimson Heirloom which ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. We meet up again with Jake, Xavier, Estelle and Jeannine against the setting of Nantes and Paris in France and Haiti and North America. This second book picks up from the days of 1776 – 1832 and takes us from 1789 – 1833. Jake is released from prison and sails to Haiti in search of the precious necklace but fails to find it. He escapes to North America where he hopes he will be safe. Meanwhile Estelle, in possession of the necklace, is in France and falls in love with Xavier Traversier, who has successfully integrated back into high society. She is aware that she is far below him in status, but could never have imagined she would be so cruelly betrayed. Beau Brave (Guillaume Guerrier) is a bit of an enigma. From a wealthy family, he makes his way to Paris with the intention of becoming a famous playwright.

The Painted Cross is not a book to pick up and put down over several weeks. The characters are many and complex and the background moves swiftly from one side of the Atlantic to the other. We learn a lot about life in Paris at the time of Louise XVI – the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy – and the politics of the day in an age of ‘Enlightenment’. The wrangling over the composition of the Etats General and the inequalities between rich and poor are discussed at length. The character of Beau Brave opens the door on the state of the theatre of the time and the hold both church and state had over the entertainment that was permitted. The discussions about the state of Haiti once the French had left mirrors current comments on today’s emerging nations. I enjoyed reading this book. It’s thoughtful, packed with information, with many philosophical conversations between the characters on the life and times of 18th century France. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are a delightful addition.